tracked leaders, went 2nd at 5th, led next, ridden and headed soon after 3 out, weakened next
towards rear, outpaced 6th, tailed off 3 out, ridden and rallied gamely flat
led, headed 5th, tracked leaders, led again soon after 3 out, headed 2 out, stayed on flat
keen in touch, headway when not fluent 7th, ridden 2 out, kept on same pace
close up, went 2nd soon after 3 out, led 2 out, 2 lengths clear when blundered last, driven out
tracked leaders, ridden 3 out, weakened next
in rear, pushed along and lost ground 7th, weakened next, tailed off 3 out, pulled up next
prominent, led 5th, headed next, tracked leaders, weakened quickly and pulled up 4 out
STORMY IRELAND was too keen when failing to land the odds on her chasing bow and first run for Paul Nicholls at Newton Abbot but she was easily the best of these over hurdles, winning Grade 3 and Listed races when with Willie Mullins, and will be a short price again in this. Elusive Belle didn’t win last season but was fifth in the County Hurdle on her final start and she looks the type to jump fences. Diva De Vassy had decent form over timber in France and her new yard is going well. Zambella is preferred to stablemate Vienna Court and also Zoutoise.
Elusive Belle (IRE) 20-1 (10-12) Mid-division, headway after 3 out, chasing leaders before last, stayed on same pace flat, 5th of 24, 8 1/2l behind Saint Roi (10-13) at Cheltenham 2m 1f hcp (1) sft in Mar.
Liberty Bella 40-1 (10-7) Mid-division, behind from 6th, 6th of 8, 21l behind Eldorado Allen (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m (3) gs in Oct.
Stormy Ireland (FR) 4-5fav (10-7) Led before 2nd, headed when not much room and landed awkwardly last, held flat, 2nd of 8, 2l behind Eldorado Allen (11-0) at Newton Abbot 2m (3) gs in Oct.
Vienna Court (IRE) 50-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway before last, no impression, 8th of 22, 19 1/4l behind Concertista (11-2) at Cheltenham 2m 1f (1) sft in Mar.
Zambella (FR) 16-1 (11-4) Held up towards rear, outpaced before 2 out, soon beaten, no impression, 7th of 12, 15 1/2l behind Marine One (10-6) at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp lst (1) gd in Sep.
Zoutoise (FR) 15-2 (11-10) Led 2nd, soon headed, led 8th, not fluent and headed 2 out, weakened flat, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 9, 17l behind Champagne Noir (11-0) at Huntingdon 2m 4f hcp (4) gd in Oct.
Diva De Vassy (FR) (11-2) won at Fontainebleau 2m 2f hvy in Mar beating De Novo (10-7) by 5 1/2l, 15 ran.
Running D'or (FR) 125-1 (10-9) Raced keenly, tracked leader until pushed along and weakened rapidly before 3 out, soon behind, tailed off, last of 12, dist behind Sceau Royal (11-6) at Ffos Las 2m hcp (2) gs in Oct.
